Between models with removable tablets, models with swivel setups and other options, there are many approaches by computer firms to achieve the first truly successful “convertible” laptop on the market right now.

The latest option from HP, one of the companies aggressively pursuing this niche in the marketplace, is the HP Pavilion x360, a machine which can be used in multiple modes -- standard laptop, tent mode and fully folded-back tablet mode.

This is made possible by its hinge setup that allows it to rotate a full 360 degrees, hence the name of the device.

I recently tested it out and I’m back with a full report of what I thought about this device and how it compares to other convertibles on the market.

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LOOKS
The 360-degree movement capability give you some flexibility, which is the goal.

Honestly, most of the time I still used the standard laptop mode; but when I wanted to view media and not be typing I often used the tent mode.

I rarely used the tablet mode, as I had little reason to do so and it was a bit unnatural of a position to me. When I did use this mode, the touchscreen was responsive and did what it was supposed to do.

I’m not sure how large the market is for these convertibles (I think most folks want a true tablet and a true laptop, or just one or the other depending on their needs); but for those who do want both options in the same machine, this setup does work well for them, to some degree. I wouldn’t call it a home run, but it’s at least a two-base hit.

The screen on the x360 is an adequate 11.6 inches, and looks sharp and clear at most angles -- It’s an HD LED-backlit display with a resolution of 1366x768.

The keyboard on this machine is a sized just right and not cramped. It features black inset keys inside the silver tray. The keyboard was not backlit, which made it more difficult to use in low-light settings.

The key with these convertibles is to keep them light and thin enough or it’s pointless.

The dimensions on this machine are: 12.12 inches wide x 8.46 inches deep x 0.86 in thick., with a weight of just over 3 pounds (3.08 to be exact). That’s perhaps slightly overweight for this kind of model, but it’s so slight that it can be forgiven.

This isn’t the thinnest machine you’ll find on the market, but it’s far from bulky.

In terms of color options, you can go with the standard silver or upgrade to a “Brilliant Red” version for a little more flash.

The touchpad on the x360 is large and responsive. My only complaint there is some occasional accidental brushing while I was typing.

The machine also comes with a HP TrueVision HD Webcam (front-facing) with integrated digital microphone

AUDIO, PORTS
This machine features Beats Audio, which provides decent sound (and will continue to do so in HP products through 2015, despite Beats’ recent acquisition by Apple).

You get a strong array of ports, including: one USB 3.0 port; two USB 2.0 ports; 1 HDMI port; and 1 RJ-45 port; You also get a headphone/microphone combo, plus a SD media card reader. The Ethernet port will be especially helpful to road warriors who might not always have a wireless connection that is reliable.

PROCESSOR, RAM, STORAGE
So what is powering this machine? The processor is an Intel® Pentium N3530 and it features Intel HD Graphics.

The base machine starts out with 4GB DDR3 System Memory, but you can upgrade to 8GB. The hard drive features a healthy 500GB of storage.

Your operating system is Windows 8.1 64.

I understand change is inevitable, and Microsoft is wise to move toward a more touch-based OS as they have with WIN 8, but I’m still not a huge fan of the system yet. I continue to adapt to it, but there are some quirks that just kind of bug me at times (seems to switch between functions arbitrarily at times, for example). Whatever you think of WIN 8 is pretty important in your decision-making process, as that is the OS you will get with this machine. There is no optical disc drive on the machine, but you can get an external drive to attach.

BATTERY LIFE

The x360 comes with a 2-cell lithium ion battery, and it doesn’t perform as well as I would have liked it to. Official numbers are that it should provide more than four hours of battery life between charges, but I got closer to 3 and a half and was plugging it in more than I would have preferred.

PRICE, TARGET AUDIENCE
This is among the least expensive laptops on the market. it has a starting price of $399, so teenagers going off to college are a target market for sure. Also, older folks looking to get into some basic computer use but don’t need the latest and greatest in all spec areas are potential buyers of this kind of machine.

My review machine came in at $474.99, as it included the $75 upgrade to 8GB of RAM. This price point is in line with similar offers from other competitors such as Lenovo in this entry-level convertible laptop marketplace.

If you’re looking for the fastest and most up-to-date machine, you’re not the target for the x360. The processor leaves something to be desired, but that’s one of the side effects of releasing more economically enticing models like this and has to be expected.

The above groups I mentioned (students and seniors), or everyday folks just wanting a basic machine to do email and social media, will probably have no issues with this machine.

If you want to push it further and do gaming or movie editing or other heavy-handed tasks, you’ll definitely need an upgrade.

And then there’s the folks who will like the flexibility of the model and its various modes. I wouldn’t say that number is huge, but they are out there for sure.

BOTTOM LINE
The HP Pavilion x360 is an attractive computer option for those who are on a budget and need to make a purchase, but aren’t expect the top machine on the market.

The x360 has a quality build and look, but can be a bit slow at times and the battery life disappoints. Still, for $400 starting price it’s doing pretty well, all things considered, and its unique design and multiple positioning options give it something most of the competition doesn't have.